Rating: 
Summary: Stalking the Perfect Field Guide
Review: The Sibley Guide isn't aimed at beginning bird watchers attempting to identify a bird in the field. While even absolute beginners will appreciate Mr. Sibley's exquisite watercolors, this is primarily a visual reference and not a how-to-do-it key. Birds are in taxonomic order, and there is serious discussion and depiction of races within a species, something that will baffle novices. Beginners would be better served with the National Geographic Guide of Kenn Kauffman's new book.But for intermediate and advanced birders, or for serious beginners, this is a nearly perfect guide. In particular, I found the pages showing all of the flycatchers on one page, or all of the woodpeckers, or all of the small gulls, to be exceptionally well done. For the treatment of individual species, well, in most cases, you will only find better drawings in the specialty books. I'd be proud to hang any of Sibley's 6,000 or more watercolors depcited in this book on my wall at home. It's larger than a traditional field guide, but not so large that you can't lug it along in the field. Other reviews imply it's the size of an unabridged encyclopedia; in fact, it's about half again the size of the National Geographic guide. A few quibbles: - Stay away from the first printing. There seems to have been a problem with the color. The color quality (and accuracy) is much better in second and subsequent printings. - Some of the unusual birds, the rarities, are omitted. This spring it was my pleasure to watch a Eurasian Bullfinch. It's a bird that's in National Geographic, but not in Sibley. I'm told Sibley stayed with the birds he knew. Perhaps that's the explanation. - To the extent behavior is used in identifying birds - Empidonax flycatchers, for example - it's probably not described sufficiently. But these are truly quibbles. Overall this is a remarkable piece of work and already a classic in its field. There isn't yet a Perfect Birding Guide but David Sibley's work is as close as anyone has come.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Work of art
Review: Being a birder in India where we have Dr. Salim Ali's field guide, this book by Sibley is easily a monumental work. It will be helpful to most bird enthusiasts. Since many of the bird species in North America are new to me, this book should help me with the necessary facts for identification. I find the illustations involving both flying and sitting postures to bring out their colors and also the features of juveniles as great ideas and extremely helpful. However, I would've also preferred a table of the most common subspecies/ species based on a particular striking feature of a bird, e.g: long tail, legs, color, etc. and based on the comparison of the size with respect to common birds like sparrow, crow, raven, etc. Also, the comparison of sizes with the most common birds could've been mentioned under the particulars of each bird. This would've helped the beginnners to use this book more efficiently as a field guide to identify a bird since the most striking feature of a bird is the one which is usually seen first. This approach by Dr. Salim Ali in his book in India is very useful. No doubt, Sibley has done an excellent job in doing all the paintings which is not easy. Thanks to Sibley.
Rating:
Summary: A terrific identification guide!
Review: I've been a birder for many years and began a life list around five years ago. I own many of the standard field guides. Only recently did I obtain the Sibley Guide, but it's become my favorite. I generally use Sibley and Stokes in tandem. Advantages:
1. Logical layout
2. "Species accounts" pages offer an excellent comparative view within the group, as well as a good all-up overview of the families/genus/species, and general behavior.
3. Individual species pages show comprehensive plumage reference art; more detailed than any I've seen. For this feature alone, the guide is worthwhile!
4. Species pages show variants (e.g., Great Blue/Great White Heron), fledgling and/or juvenile patterns. In some cases art of eclipse plumage is a very nice bonus.
5. Flight/wing patterns where relevant
6. Comparison of hummingbird mating display paths
7. Diurnal raptors section shows perched vs. in-flight underside plumage for each species. It also offers silhouette guides to help teach wing shape if plumage is light-obscured.
8. Good geographical reference map (though smaller than ideal*)
9. Good vocal descriptions
10. Nice (what they refer to as) "bird topography" section
11. Where applicable, good information on regional variations and species clines. Disadvantages:
1. This is not a pocket guide; it's cumbersome. I use Stokes in the field, and use Sibley at home for reference afterward.
2. The binding on my copy isn't sturdy, particularly for something that's supposedly a field guide. I feel like I must treat the glue binding gingerly or the pages might start to fall out.
3. Not enough text re: birding ethics & conservation (but that might just be my inner tree-hugger appearing) :)
4. *Geographical range map is small. I imagine it'd be difficult for some people to see clearly.
5. Migratory geographical information only covers North America. I'd like reference for migratory species (even just within text) of migration route start/finish and total annual distance. (Aside: the artic tern has the longest distance migration [Arctic to Antarctic] and can cover 22k - 30k mpy.) Overall, this a great reference, and I recommend it highly. However, to Knopf publishers/Chanticleer Press: Please ask Dai Nippon Printing Co to use better binding glue in the next edition!
Rating:
Summary: Worth The Money
Review: ... The Sibley Guide to Birds is a very well made guide, the illustrations are very detailed and straight-forward. For each bird, there are an average of at least five pictures, showing the bird in different plumages, in flight, or even in display. Some complain about the weight of this book, but it isn't much of a problem if you bring a back pack with you to carry it in. Besides, aren't you buying a field guide for the content, not the weight? At least it didn't sacrifice space for detail, I've noticed that in 'All the Birds of North America', some birds are slightly overlapped, which isn't too favourable. The only problem, which is a small one, is that there isn't much information regarding the behaviours of the birds. I guess that is why Mr. Sibley wrote "The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behaviour", but it would be a nice addition if he could've added some behaviour information in this book. Overall, a must have field guide.
Rating:
Summary: The best field guide for identifying birds.
Review: The latest attempt to publish the perfect bird guide book comes very close. The Sibley guide is more comprehensive than the National Geographic guide (NG) in its inclusion of views. In examining each page of the book I was bewildered at the number of views. The first published drawings I have seen of some species in flight are in this thorough book. The group accounts to begin each section are excellent. These accounts show all species in a family on one page; often examining hard to identify plumages like first-winter female wood-warblers. The range maps and voice details are much better than any previous attempt. Identification skills are sprinkled throughout the book in areas where they are most needed. In this regard, the Sibley guide gives the user some of what Kenn Kaufman's Advanced Birding, Jack Connor's The Complete Birder and the American Birding Association's Birding magazine provide. It falls short of perfection in four areas that will be considered minor by most readers: The drawings are not as sharp as in the NG. The feather detail is often absent and edges are blurred leaving less of the feather texture affect found in the NG. This may be a purposeful attempt to get users to focus on the feel of the bird rather than searching for details that can sometimes only be seen with a bird in hand. The habitat information is not as complete as in the NG. Unlike the NG where habitat and historical details are provided with individual species, the Sibley guide gives their habitat info in group descriptions at the tops of most pages. There are still some omissions. While I have not had time to search for every vagrant species, two birds I have personally seen in North America are not included - the whiskered tern and the brown shrike. It is not field worthy. In this I expect some will disagree. It will surely fit in a shoulder bag or backpack. Perhaps more important, it may be good for birding if birders don't take it with them. Birding skills are developed by viewing birds and trying to remember and record details. This guide's utility will be as the definitive guide for pre and post observation. I am still giving this book five stars and advise every serious birder to purchase it, study it, and learn from it. It will be the first guide I turn to when I'm back at my car after a cool morning in the field.
Rating:
Summary: New Standard for Bird Field Guides
Review: David Sibley has written an excellent field guide. This book surpasses National Geographic's "Field Guide to Birds of North America" and the Peterson's Series of Bird Guides. It includes a greater number of illustrations and portrays more of the various ages of the birds. One has to appreciate the flight views of the many birds. The colors of the illustrations are excellent. This corrects one compliant of the 3rd edition of National Geographic Field Guide. Advanced and beginning birders will benefit from the examples. The range maps have been adjusted in several cases. Sibley has taken great care in producing the most up-to-date field guide. The accompanying text is very informative. It is packed with information about each species. Sibley "Guide to Birds" definitely shows that years were taken to produce this comprehensive reference. If there is a downside, this book is heavy. Many pages were required to incorporate all the interesting and informative information contained in this fabulous book! Sibley has set a new standard in Bird Field Guides. It will be years before this book is surpassed. Sibley's "Guide to Birds" is a must book for any birders library.
Rating:
Summary: A Sibley classic
Review: A truly magnificent book, which, coupled with its companion volume, the Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior, provides the definitive text on American birdlife.
Rating:
Summary: Simply the Best of the Best!
Review: Mr. Sibley has created a bird guide for the 21st century. Practical, logical and incredibly informative, The Sibley Guide to Birds is the bird watchers bible. I have used this guide everyday since I purchased it and the incredible paintings make indentifying birds a joy. Concise and informative, this is the definitive guide for my favorite hobby!! I highly recommend this guide to both novice and expert alike.
Rating:
Summary: Peterson started it....Sibley perfected it
Review: I've owned the Sibley since it's release and I've just about worn the poor book to nothing. This book, his life's work, holds a detail in it's paintings that is simply unsurpassed. The National Geographic was the guide of choice for many years, but now this is certainly tops. If you are a birder, you must own this, don't worry about the size or settle for the newer Eastern or Western mini-versions....Cowboy up and carry it in a pack or guide cover!
Rating:
Summary: An amazing guide
Review: The only authorative guide to U.S. birds. And, a great guide. No birder should be without it.
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